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This is an excellent program: well conceived and well delivered. Our group leader Brigitte and lecturer/guide James both carry out their jobs very well. You could read the history in a book, but it was a lot more fun to hear it from James. Brigitte's personal touch of taking us to a wine bar for a charcuterie lunch and to Miss Lunch for a unique, artistic dinner were unique experiences that made the trip even more special than Paris would normally be. The hotel was good and although it isn't smack in the middle of things, it is easy to get to by metro or bus (or a long walk if you're looking for more exercise) and being in a neighborhood it allows you to easily buy groceries or snacks or pastries! or water or bottles or wine or whatever you want to take to your hotel room. I recommend it highly.

Independent Paris exceeded my expectations. Both our group leader and guide, Brigitte and Jennifer, were excellent. While I could cover the same itinerary on my own, the information, history, and commentary that they provided made everything a lot more interesting, fun, and memorable.

I am just home from RS trip, Independent Paris. It was wonderful, and timing was perfect. there were not many tourists most places. I used the Cars Air France to Gare de Lyon, and them took a short taxi ride to the hotel. Show the taxi driver the address and say it's close to Place de Nation. I tipped the taxi. Our guides, Malcolm and Thomas, were wonderful! I'm sure you guides will be as well. It's a great opportunity to get outside your box, using the Metro on your own with the pass provided, and use as much French as you can. Enjoy!

Independent Paris was a wonderful program that allowed me to see Paris from a different angle. Our expert guides led us into a wonderful discovery of unusual places. I enjoyed meeting the other participants and feel that the whole experience was very worthwhile.

The is a wonderful tour of Paris. Be aware there is a lot of walking and stair climbing in the Paris metro. It is not a tour for those who are not in decent shape. We walked about 36 miles in 6 days and did a lot of stairs but we loved it!!!

Joanne and Roger from Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti:
This was a fantastic trip--everything and more than we expected. Our group leader, Pauline was outstanding! She was energetic, attentive to everyone's needs and very knowledgeable and fun to be with. Margaret our Paris instructor also very knowledgable about Paris neighborhoods and art/architecture, had a fun flare that made for an exceptional experience. The trip overall was very well organized. It is rigorous! Lots of stairs, but does have the built in "independence". Loved using the metro. Hotel location in the Marais district was excellent. Once again, Roads Scholar gets an outstanding rating from us.

Mark from Naples, FL
Number of programs attended: 2
Date attended: 09/12/14 - 09/20/14
Wonderful trip. Extremely well organized. Pauline is an amazing group leader--very personable and competent. Margaret our guide is a gem with such passion for art and history. Moderately strenuous is accurate--lots of up and down. Nice blend of organized events with independent options. A great introduction to Paris--we can't wait to go back!

Overall this was an excellent program. Pay attention to the activity level - it's taxing. The hotel was in a state of flux and probably not a good choice at the time. Pauline (leader) and Margaret (guide) were both terrific.
Clem and Barbara - Delaware

THis was our 3 trip to Paris but I can tell you that we saw and learned more this trip than any other we have ever taken. Leader Louis was "tres fabulous" and guide Jennifer was amazing. Louis always "on guard" so we always felt safe with him around. Jennifer was so knowledgeable about French history, art, books, architecture, and walking-around information. We had 21 in our group and everyone very compatable--always a plus. Hotel not where I would have selected to stay but after 1st day of riding the metro you feel very capable of getting around Paris on your own, which we did. This is a WALKING tour. One day we walked over 10 miles-little by little; as well as up and down because Paris is not flat. Be prepared. Climate was wonderful and only rained one day but we all were troopers and the show goes on! Schedules are full every day but you do not have to attend even though it is hard to separate from Louis and Jennifer because you know you will miss something wonderful, but we had other sites we wanted to see than the Louve. All I can say is that it was not nearly enough time with Louis and Jennifer nor Paris. I see another trip in our future. Je t'aime Paris.

This trip was fantastic, beyond our expectations. Our Leader Louis and Guide James made Paris come alive. Wonderful trip and very well organize and planned. We saw and did it all. You will want to book it.

I thought I was going to Paris for a one-time visit, but Louis Bideau, Malcolm Livesay, and our entire group made it such a wonderful experience that I am already planning to return next year. Road Scholar is the best!
Sherry, Ottawa, ON

My first trip with Road Scholar: 10034-Independent Paris: People, Places, Culture; I was very impressed. The itineary was so well paced. Our Group Leader, Louis Bideau and Instructor, Malcolm Livesey were fabulous. Both gentlemen were well informed, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.
I will definitely will travel with Road Scholar again.
Temika
San Francisco, CA

Myself and friend had a wonderful week in Paris, March 31 to April 7. Robert and Malcolm were wonderful, shepard and guide. The hotel was OK, a little out of town but very near metro and on the bus route. but we tended to walk home every day and got to know the route very well on foot. This is a busy program if one takes advantage of everything available, and it is for the moderately active among us. There were a few on our trip who did not really seem to have understood that it would be so independent and active. I feel as if I know Paris very well by now and would have no problem going back on my own without any need for baby sitting. Where does Road Scholar get such great guides? They really are wonderful and caring people. I am already planning my next RS trip

Independent Paris is described as having lots of free time. Not so, if you take advantage of all the insights and knowledge of the trip leader and guides. If you follow along,you days will be busy,full, and exhausting. The upside is that you'll learn a lot and be prepared to come back to Paris on your own to see the places you want to see in depth, and confidently find your way around this beautiful and sophisticated city.

I would recommend Independent Paris: People, Places, Culture for anyone who is able to walk up to 5 miles and day as well as climb a winding set of steps up to the lecture room at the hotel. Sylvie our guide was wonderful. I love Paris and was able to use my Quebecois French that I learned as a child - contrary to what some people say about Paris I found almost everyone willing to work with my French or English and be quite helpful. It was a lovely experience.

Marge and I had an absolutely fabulous time on this tour; after all, what can beat April in Paris! We were quite fortunate to have Louis-Gabriel Bideu as our Tour leader, as he provided insight to some cultural nuances, kept us on track and was always there when we needed him. Malcolm Livesey, our tour guide and British ex-pat, was delightful and clearly knowledgeable about the museums we visited, as well as the many by-ways and landmarks around the city. We particularly appreciated the independent nature of the tour that allowed us to go off and explore (and eat!) on our own when we wanted to.
The only drawback to our experience was the hotel. While it was a nice place, with clean rooms, a good breakfast and attentive staff, we felt that, being a mile east of the Bastille it was further from the city center than we would have preferred. Other than that, we would highly recommend this tour to Road Scholar members who like an highly active learning experience.

Note that you will be walking on cobblestones + up/down multiple stairs in the Metro + hotel elevator broken on 2 days [6 stories] - activity level for the Program is fairly strenuous. Hopefully you will have Louie as the Group Leader - he is excellent. Enjoy - I did & loved the size of the Group - 24 max.

My husband and I chose this program as our 40th wedding anniversary celebration trip. It surpassed our expectations in every manner, e.g. insightful and breathtaking walks, erudite explanations of works of art and French history. Malcolm was an very informative and entertaining guide. We even got to hear him sing on occasion. Louis added the sage insight into French culture , as well as a sense of security to each day. One can choose to move with the group or be off on one's own. If all Road Scholar experiences are like this one we will look no further for a tour.

Independent Paris is truly a "Moveable Feast." Buoyed by our stylish and erudite tour guides' daily talks presented at our comfortable hotel and on-site, we explored museums, monuments, and markets. Our fearless leaders' anecdotes and backstories will enrich memories of Place Vosges and Montmartre. I'll recall hidden gardens and architectural gems and remember the locations of revolutionary barricades and artists' studios. By engaging all our senses - the taste of ubiquitous macaroons, the smells wafting from bistros (& yes, we learned the origins of that word), the ringing of famous church bells, the sight of Eiffel Tower lit up at night from our Seine boat trip, we felt that we almost belonged to this magnificent metropolis. On the practical side, we were able to explore countless historical and cultural areas by becoming familiar with the city's transportation system . So bus stations and metro stops became part of our vocabulary, along with helpful phrases en Francais. Enjoyed this adventure so much I'm looking forward to Independent Paris II!!

What a wonderful experience for my first trip to Paris. The group was small, which made it that much better as we walked or rode to the different neighborhoods. Liked the hotel and accomodations and the food was good. Our guides were terrific!Was overwhelmed bythe beauty of the city, and the history of the place.

Enjoyed our Paris tour immensely. Lots of fun, great food and wine.
The hotel was very nice and the breakfasts were great.
The tours to the churches and art galleries were very exciting, especially for an artist. Our group was small so it felt like a small family. Our tour guides were very informative and fun and helped us feel very safe.
I am recommending this tour to my friends.

If experiencing Paris through walking tours of the city, this is a great trip for you. Accommodations are slightly off the beaten track but in a good way. The neighborhood has everything (cafes, restaurants, pharmacy, food marts) w/o being in the middle of touristy attractions. It gives a sense of neighborhood. We happened to enjoy the small group size, which may have been atypical. We had a great week and want to return to see and so more.

I was charmed by the well-known as well as the lesser known (glass covered shopping walkways from the 19th century)sites of Paris. We saw more of Paris at an enjoyable pace than I ever expected. It was lovely.

This was a remarkable trip--plenty of group tours but time to for each participant to explore their very own Paris. Our hosts were highly knowledgeable, friendly and helpful and Paris itself was a wonder!

A truly wonderful introduction to Paris. Morning meetings with Malcolm covered art, architecture, French history. Then it was on to the tour of day with good walking shoes and lots of physical stamina required. We small city dwellers were glad to get help navigating the metro and bus system, and were able to use that knowledge when we stayed for extra days after the trip. The hotel, Best Western Patio St. Antoine, was fine with a good breakfast and a good room for our morning meetings. However, I would have preferred a hotel closer to the Seine and the historic center. Overall,highly recommended.

This trip was fantastic. Not only is the city of Paris the most beautiful (and a lot of other superlatives) you will ever see, but the group leaders were excellent in every way I could think of. I couldn't recommend this trip highly enough.

Janet from Louisville, KY
Number of programs attended: 3
Date attended: 05/25/13-06/03/13
Superlative guide Malcolm (and group herder Jacques)provided a comprehensive overview of France's history and meaningful visits to the significant churches, art museums, and neighborhoods. The museum highlight for me was the Musee d'Orsay which included a guided tour by Malcolm, lunch in the exquisite dining room,and time to explore on our own. Malcolm's guided tour of the off-the-beaten-track neighborhoods in Montmartre was fascinating. The low point was the visit to the Louvre. The audioguide was very dissatisfying. A guided tour by Malcolm would have been far better. The restaurant selected for the first dinner was far superior to the final evening. Aimless wandering by shops in an arcade near the Palais Royal could have been substituted with something more interesting such as The Paris Opera House. Attending a performance at The Paris Opera would have been wonderful! (One member of our group was brave enough to do so on her own.) Overall, I highly recommend this program.

The Independent Paris program was a marvelous introduction to one of the most interesting,beautiful and delicious cities in the world. Fully appreciating everything Paris had to offer was due in no small part to our wonderful leader, Brigitte, and our insightful guide, James. I had a terrific time!

Independent Paris was a real treat. The history, the art, the cultural and, of course, the food, were all wonderful. The Parisians were helpful and pleased to share their city during early May. As expected, there were little surprises around every corner. An excellent group leader and a knowledgeable and humorous lecturer/guide made this a very special adventure.

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